Results 4,841-4,860 of 22,424 for speaker:Finian McGrath

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Hear, hear.

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Come on, Deputy Butler. Give us another one.

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Acting Chairman will be flexible and give us some injury time towards the end of the debate. I welcome the opportunity to contribute on this important debate on budget 2018. I warmly welcome the significant increases in public spending. These are the largest health, disability and education budgets ever, meaning more teachers, social care staff, nurses, gardaí and child care...

Financial Resolutions 2018 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Please, do not deny the work that is being done step by step or the progress that has been made. Consider the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and the extra €3 million that the Independent Alliance negotiated in recent days to set up the decision support service. This is another step forward under the UN convention. I remind Deputies that it was the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Autism Support Services (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The Government is committed to providing services and supports for people with disabilities which will empower them to live independent lives, provide greater independence in accessing the services they choose, and enhance their ability to tailor the supports required to meet their needs and plan their lives. This commitment is outlined in the Programme for Partnership Government, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Illness Benefit Applications (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I confirm that my Department received an application for disability allowance from this gentleman on 18 August 2017. On completion of the necessary investigations on all aspects of the claim a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome. The processing time for individual disability allowance claims may vary in accordance with their relative...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance Eligibility (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Following a review of this gentleman’s entitlement to disability allowance (DA), it was found that he had an increase in his means from his previous assessment. Based on the information provided to my department, a reduced rate of disability allowance was awarded. The reduced rate became effective from 20 September 2017. Notification of this decision issued on 11 September 2017. He...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Fuel allowance is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. Based on the information provided to the department, this gentleman does not qualify for the allowance, as his household consists of people who are not in a qualifying category. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance Eligibility (12 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Fuel allowance is a means tested payment, payable to people who either live alone or only with certain other qualified people. Based on the information provided to the department, this lady does not qualify for the allowance as her household consists of people who are not in a qualifying category. I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I am delighted to be here to meet and to be made accountable to colleagues. This is a very important issue. I know there are broader issues and I commend the people here. I know them all individually and their track record for pushing for services for people with disabilities is commendable. I thank them for their support. I thank the Vice Chairman and the committee for its invitation to...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Dara Murphy for his questions. There is no question of me disputing the ruling of the Ombudsman. I am very supportive and understanding of this issue. The resources argument is a big argument for us all. What I have found in recent discussions on the Estimates, as Deputy Murphy will know as a former Minister of State, is that when there is a certain amount of money coming...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: Yes, I am always consulting and in direct contact with the Ombudsman.

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Cassells for raising these important issues. On his point about greatest need, 4,700 people are already in receipt of the payment. Some people are proposing that we broaden the scheme where we might be looking at as many as 20,000 people in receipt of this payment. While this legislation is being finalised, it is important to remember that 4,700 people are getting the...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: 20,000 is an estimate.

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: The honest answer is "No", because the talks are still going on with DPER. I do not know at this stage. I know what I want to do, but how I get there is a different debate. The bottom line is that I want to ensure that the Bill will cover the maximum number of people. I have a caveat that the most needy people have to be prioritised. If it comes to a decision between getting this...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: There is a link.

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I know the Vice Chairman's position quite well. I thank Senator Buttimer for his comments and support. The issue of accessibility and isolation is huge and I totally agree with him. If we dig deeper within the disability community, particularly those with physical disabilities but also the visually impaired or deaf - I have spent time with the deaf community over the past number of months...

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I will be in again soon.

Committee on Public Petitions: Discontinued Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Schemes: Minister of State at the Department of Health (11 Oct 2017)

Finian McGrath: I thank Deputy Ryan for his support. I know from working with him on the northside of Dublin that he is very much involved with disability issues and with supporting the families of children with disabilities. I also apologise to Deputy Ryan for the delay. There are times when it gets very frustrating. Before giving detailed answers to the questions, I would like to say that significant...